Game



June 17, 1941. c. F, voLz' 2,246,115

GAME

Filed Jan. 16, 1940 projector for projecting the Patented June 17, 1941 UNETED STATES ;PATE-NT OFFICE GAME Carl F. Volz, Berwyn, Md. I

Application January 16, 1940, Serial No. $1 1,175

3Claims. ((1273-89) My invention relates to improvements in games.

The object of my invention is to provide a game board upon which may be played a game similar to base ball, upon which is marked a diamond provided with a ball projector representing a pitcher, and a spring operated member representing a batter. I also provide pockets arranged around the diamond to receive the ball and representing the various plays of a base ball game, such as strikes, balls, fouls, one, two, three base'hits and home runs.

Another'object of my invention is to provide a game of this character in which two opposing, players take part at the same time, one representing the team at the bat and another the team in the field, thelatter operating the ball ball to the batter of the other team.

A further object of my invention is to provide a game of ball in which the actual skill of the pitcher and batter plays the major part in the result of the game, and, therefore, is distinguishable from the ordinary ball game played on a board in which one person plays at a time.

In the accompanying drawing- Figure 1 is a top plan view of my improved game board;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view, taken on the line 2--2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional view, taken on the line 33 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view, taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a sectional view, taken on the line 55 of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a sectional view, taken on the line 66 of Figure 2.

Referring now to the drawing, l represents a rectangular game board, having raised side walls 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 arranged around the same and having a raised diamond shaped playing surface I, spaced from the bottom of the board. This diamond shaped playing surface extends to the side walls 2 and 6 and spaced a short distance from the upper edge with a flange above the same which forms a stop for the ball, as will be hereinafter more fully described. The rear ends of the diamond shaped playing surface 1 communicate with the passages 8 and 9, below the surface thereof, which communicate with the pockets [0, ll, l2, l3, l4, l5, l6, l1, l8, l9 and 20, and are designated to indicate some of the numerous plays of a base ball game.

The rear walls of the passages have inclined stops 2! and 22, adapted to stop th ball and cause it to drop in the passages 8 and 9 and from there enters on of the numerous pockets, heretofore designated, as will be fully set forth in the description of the game as played. The end 23 of the playing surface is-the home plate, the projection 24 first base, projection 25 second base and projection 26 third base, and the playing surfaces between the bases and home plate are marked off, as indicated at 21, to represent the running base lines between the bases.

In rear of the home plate there is .a raised portion 28, having a cover. 29, and an open front end into which the ball is free to enter. Below the cover and the-plane of the playing surface 1 are arranged channelstll, 3| and 32, which extend under the playing surface to the far end of the board beyond second base and communicating with the pockets 33, 34 and 35. The center pocket 34, being designated by the letter S, indicating a strike, while the pockets 33 and 35, on either side thereof, are designated by the letter B, indicating a ball.

Adjacent theraised side 6, close to the home plate 23, is pivoted a shaft 36, having a coil spring 31, normally turning said shaft, The upper end of the shaft is provided witha fiat arm 38, which is normally held in the position shown in full lines in Figures 1 and 6 by the spring 31, and is adapted to be moved across the home plate and assume th position shown in dotted lines in Figures 1 and 6 by the action of the spring 31. The arm 38 is held in the last mentioned position by means of a catch 39, pivoted at 40 to the raised side 6 and provided with an operating lever 4|. The catch has a spring 42 engaging the same out beyond the pivot for holding the hooked end 43 over the plate 38 and holds the plate in said position against the tension of the spring.

In rear of second base, I provide a housing 44, in which is arranged a spring operated plunger 45, adapted to project a ball placed in the housing out through the open front end 46 over the playing surface towards the home plate.

pivoted figures 41 adapted to swing upward to indicate when the base is occupied by a player.

The cover 29, in rear of the home plate, has markings and pointers to keep account of the standing of the game. The pointer 48 indicates outs, 49 strikes and 50 balls, and are operated by the player at the bat.

In playing the game, it will be seen that the arm 38 is set in the position shown in dotted lines The projections 24, 25 and 26 are provided with in Figure 6- and held by the catch. The arm in this position does not extend across the space representing strikes, and, therefore, the ball is free to enter the same. The player stands close to the board ready to release the plate 38 by a downward thrust on the handle 4| of the catch. The opponent player is at the opposite end of the board and places the ball in place and draws back the plunger by the handle 45'. The ball is then shot forward across the playing surface toward 10 the home plate. 'The opponent releases the plate at such time as he thinks it will strike the ball. If the arm misses the ball, it passes to one of thel passages 30, 3| and 32 and thence to one of the v pockets 33, 34 and 35, where it is determined whether it is a ball or strike and the same is then indicated on the scorer. If the arm hits the ball, it will be driven outwardly over the playing surface and will finally enter one of the channels 8 A and}; and from there one of the pockets I I] to 28,

inclusive. These pockets aremarked by letters ,and numerals, indicating one, two or three base hits, home runs outs and fouls. If one base hit is madethe figure on projection 24 is raised, to

indicate a man on first base. If it enters a pocket, u

indicating out, it is indicated on the scorer. If itgenters a foul pocket, it is recorded as a ball, and a home run would be kept on a scorecard similar tothe ones used in base ball, ,The oppor nents resume their positions, one as a batter and' .the otheras apitcher, until three men are struck out,-when the players reverse their positions. Any

number of innings may be played.

F-rom the foregoing, it will be seen that there-2 is considerable skill involved in the game in releasing the arm at the proper time, so as to hit ith'e'ball and have a chance to make a single base "hit, a'two or three base hit, or a'home run.

operated bat adjacent the home plate and adapted to swing cross the same, a pocket beyond the home plate and of a width equal thereto representing strikes, a pocket on each side of the strike pocket representing balls, and a spring operated means for projecting a ball towards said ball and strike pockets, whereby the ball may be hit and driven into any of the pockets indicating the various plays.

2. A game, comprimng a fiat playing surface having'abase ba'll diamond marked thereon with pockets arranged around the out fields indicating the various plays of a base ball game, a pivoted spring operated bat adjacent the home plate and adapted to swing across the same, a pocket beyond the home plate and of a width equal thereto 7 representing strikes, a pocket on each side of the strike pocket representing balls, means for projectinga ball towards said ball and strike pockets, a separate channel communicating with each ball and strike pocket and extending under the playingfield andcommunicating with open pockets arranged beyond the projecting means representing strikes and balls.

3..A game, comprising :a fiat playing surface with a base ball diamond m'arke'd thereon with pockets arranged around --the outfields indicating the various plays of a base ball game, a spring operated bat adjacent the home plate and adapted to "swinga'cross the same, -a hood extending across the playing field in rear of the home'pl'ate, partitions between the playing surface and'the'hood in a line with the sides bl? thehome plate forming a central strike pocket and a ball'pocket on each side thereof, a spring operated means adjacent the secoridbasefor projecting a ball towards said ball and strike pockets, a separate channel communicating with each ball and strike pocket and 1 extending under the playing field and communieating with separateopen pockets arranged beyond the projecting means representing strikes "and balls.

CARL F. 'VOLZ. 

